Faith: Artist puts action into the word

Published: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at 03:12 PM.

PANAMA
CITY
— Sergio Cariello seems the perfect artist to take on a high-profile project like “The Action Bible.”

Born in
Brazil
in 1964, he started drawing at an early age, putting his mark on any surface available, even church bulletins.

“I started drawing as soon as I could hold a pencil,” said Cariello. “At the age of 5, I already knew I wanted to be a cartoonist. That’s what I told my parents.”

In 2006, publisher David C. Cook contacted Cariello to see if he would be interested in producing an all-new version of Cook’s own “Picture Bible.” What Cook didn’t know was that Cariello grew up with a Portuguese translation of that very same book.

Cariello was reading Cook’s “Picture Bible” before he learned to ride a bike, according to promotional materials. Even though he knew as a kid that he wanted to be a comic artist, Cariello never dreamed that he would one day get to work on an all-new version of the “Picture Bible.”

Described as an “action-packed rendition of the world’s most awesome story,” the “Action Bible” contains richly illustrated versions of 215 fast-paced narratives from the Bible, presented in chronological order. It’s currently available from booksellers, retail stores and online services around the world.

For Cariello, who attended the Word of Life Bible Institute in
New York
during his 20s, the project was a natural extension of his interests.

PANAMA CITY — Sergio Cariello seems the perfect artist to take on a high-profile project like “The Action Bible.”

Born in Brazil in 1964, he started drawing at an early age, putting his mark on any surface available, even church bulletins.

“I started drawing as soon as I could hold a pencil,” said Cariello. “At the age of 5, I already knew I wanted to be a cartoonist. That’s what I told my parents.”

In 2006, publisher David C. Cook contacted Cariello to see if he would be interested in producing an all-new version of Cook’s own “Picture Bible.” What Cook didn’t know was that Cariello grew up with a Portuguese translation of that very same book.

Cariello was reading Cook’s “Picture Bible” before he learned to ride a bike, according to promotional materials. Even though he knew as a kid that he wanted to be a comic artist, Cariello never dreamed that he would one day get to work on an all-new version of the “Picture Bible.”

Described as an “action-packed rendition of the world’s most awesome story,” the “Action Bible” contains richly illustrated versions of 215 fast-paced narratives from the Bible, presented in chronological order. It’s currently available from booksellers, retail stores and online services around the world.

For Cariello, who attended the Word of Life Bible Institute in New York during his 20s, the project was a natural extension of his interests.

As a child, he made up his own mini-comics with his own characters. He drew all the TV cartoons and comic book characters he liked. At the age of 11, in 1975, he invented “Frederico, the Detective” for his local newspaper, Diario De Pernambuco. He wrote the story, penciled and inked the art, and lettered the dialogue.

“I won the contest the paper put out for kids my age,” he said. “I had so much fun doing the strip. I loved the response I got from school. My friends wanted to know what would happen next week on ‘Frederico.’ It was a weekly strip. … I did that until I was 14.”

At that point, Cariello said, he developed new interests — girls, beach, working out, guitar playing — but he never stopped drawing. He even did political caricatures for the same paper. Then, in 1982, he saw an ad for the JoeKubertSchool of Cartoon and Graphic Art in a Batman comic.

“My eyes popped when I saw the ad of a caveman talking to an ugly bird: ‘Have you heard about it? The JoeKubertSchool?’ I knew right away that this was the school for me,” he said. “I started saving money and learning English so I could fulfill my dream. I have been a big fan of Joe Kubert’s work since I saw his take on Tarzan.”

By 1990, Cariello was working for publishers including Caliber Press and Dark Horse, and he’s been working ever since.

Cariello is the guest of honor at the fourth annual Creative Con, a celebration of graphic novels, comics and imagination at the Bay County Public Library, 898 W. 11th St., Panama City. Events are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24. Cariello will speak at 11:30 a.m.

Meet the Artist

Who: Sergio Cariello is the guest of honor at the fourth annual Creative Con